Equifax Breach Updates – Financial Self Defense

It’s been several weeks since the massive data breach at Equifax became public knowledge. The panic that followed the astounding news has given way to anger, bafflement and an overwhelming sense of helplessness.

This isn’t the first data breach our country has seen, nor is it the biggest. Sadly, it’s almost become a routine thing: We read the headlines screaming about a major company that’s been hacked, a public outcry ensues and then it all fizzles out. There may be a lawsuit brought against the company a few months down the line, and some of us might take some extra precautions, but then it all becomes yesterday’s news – forgotten and irrelevant.

But this time, it’s different.

First, Equifax is at the core of our personal information and cybersecurity ecosystem. When our trust in one cog in this system wavers, who’s to say we can trust the system at all?

Second, Equifax is an independent company that regularly receives information about almost every American without consent. Most of us have never knowingly volunteered to give our information to the credit reporting agency; it’s simply part of the system. When viewed through the lens of this tremendous data breach, it seems like we have almost no control over this sensitive information.

The Equifax breach won’t disappear quietly, and the ripple effect of the hack will be felt for months, and possibly for years to come.

While there are still many more questions than answers, lots of factors have been clarified, and here at Interior FCU, we want to pass that crucial information on to you.

Here are some of the most common questions answered:

Is Equifax being held accountable for the breach?

It most certainly is! While any company with the best security can be hacked, Equifax is being critiqued for having a weak security system and an unprofessional and ineffectual reaction to the breach.

To date, the credit bureau has been marked in more than 50 class-action lawsuits. It is also under investigation by the Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Justice and at least 33 state attorneys general. Both houses of Congress are requesting information, and Equifax’s CEO is expected to testify within the next few weeks.

While angry victims are demanding justice, it is likely that Equifax will argue that it bore no responsibility or obligations to the affected individuals, as it had no direct relationship with them.

What is Equifax doing about the breach?

The credit bureau’s reaction to the breach has been highly criticized from every angle. During the first few days after the breach, the company charged people for freezing their credit. Though the fee has since been waived, the public was enraged at this near-extortion.

Also, the company set up an insecure website to help people determine if they were affected. The official site is www.equifaxsecurity2017.com. However, on several occasions over weeks following the breach, the company’s Twitter account directed people to a fake phishing site: www.securityequifax2017.com. Though all fraudulent sites have since been taken down, Equifax has been condemned for using a domain that is so easy to impersonate by phishing sites and for actually directing people to the fake site.

In all fairness, though, the company did take positive action to limit the potential damage caused by the breach. Equifax has waived the fee on credit freezes and is also offering free credit monitoring for one year.

What should I do now?

If you haven’t already done so, it’s best to take steps toward protecting your credit. Visit www.equifaxsecurity2017.com to determine if you’ve been targeted. If you have, consider placing a credit freeze on your accounts. This will prevent a new creditor from accessing your credit report and will stop a criminal from taking out a loan in your name.

Request and review a credit report from the three credit bureaus every few months. Look for suspicious activity and unfamiliar charges and always dispute fraudulent transactions immediately.

You can also sign up for Equifax’s credit monitoring service, but remember that if you’ve been targeted, this move will only delay identity theft and other credit crimes for one year. After that, it’s your responsibility to frequently monitor your credit reports for suspicious activity.

Currently, only 11% of the victims have taken action toward protecting their credit. Too many people are assuming they have not been affected – and will need to pay the price later. Don’t delay; if you haven’t taken the above steps yet, take them today!

In the Equifax case, the privacy of 143 million customers was clearly violated
~CNBC

Are my Social Security benefits at risk?

Unfortunately, when a criminal gets their hands on your personal information, one of the most heinous crimes they can commit is stealing your Social Security benefits.

If you’re already receiving your monthly benefits and you’ve been targeted, a criminal can redirect your payments toward a new checking account and keep the money for themselves. For those of you who have not yet filed for Social Security, they may access your information, file for benefits on your account and then direct those benefits to their own address.

If that happens, when you’re ready to file and collect your benefits, you’ll find that you may have actually been receiving them for years! You will then need to prove that your identity was stolen and you haven’t yet received one dollar from the Social Security Administration.

Don’t let this happen to you!

If you’re already receiving benefits, monitor your payments carefully. Miss even one payment, report it immediately. It’s also smart to keep all your documents from the Social Security Administration so that you can easily prove your identity, should the need arise.

If you haven’t yet filed for benefits, it’s equally important to preserve all related documents. That way, if you are victimized, you’ll have an easier time proving you haven’t actually been receiving your benefits during that time.

The effects of the Equifax data breach are staggering. With the proper precautionary steps, though, you can minimize its impact and keep yourself and your money safe.

You have until March 8th to cast your vote for the 2019 Interior FCU’s Board of Directors. There are 3 seats up for election. Members can vote online or by phone, 888-496-6398 toll free and follow the prompts.

Online Banking

FIRST TIME MEMBERS: Your 8-digit account number will be your initial Username. Your temporary password/Audio Response PIN, were selected at account opening. If you forgot or need to set up your temporary password/Audio Response PIN please dial (800) 914-8619 then press option 1 for automated set-up.

INACTIVE MEMBERS: If you haven't used Online Banking for 6 months, your Online Banking access may be deactivated. If this happens, you may reactivate your account by using your 8-digit account number as your Username and your Audio Response PIN Code as your Password.

If you can't remember your audio response PIN Code or are having trouble, please call a Member Service Representative at (800)914-8619, press 7 then 3, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. EST.

Online Banking

FIRST TIME MEMBERS: Your 8-digit account number will be your initial Username. Your temporary password/Audio Response PIN, were selected at account opening. If you forgot or need to set up your temporary password/Audio Response PIN please dial (800) 914-8619 then press option 1 for automated set-up.

INACTIVE MEMBERS: If you haven't used Online Banking for 6 months, your Online Banking access may be deactivated. If this happens, you may reactivate your account by using your 8-digit account number as your Username and your Audio Response PIN Code as your Password.

If you can't remember your audio response PIN Code or are having trouble, please call a Member Service Representative at (800)914-8619, press 7 then 3, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. EST.

Online Banking

FIRST TIME MEMBERS: Your 8-digit account number will be your initial Username. Your temporary password/Audio Response PIN, were selected at account opening. If you forgot or need to set up your temporary password/Audio Response PIN please dial (800) 914-8619 then press option 1 for automated set-up.

INACTIVE MEMBERS: If you haven't used Online Banking for 6 months, your Online Banking access may be deactivated. If this happens, you may reactivate your account by using your 8-digit account number as your Username and your Audio Response PIN Code as your Password.

If you can't remember your audio response PIN Code or are having trouble, please call a Member Service Representative at (800)914-8619, press 7 then 3, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. EST.

Online Banking

FIRST TIME MEMBERS: Your 8-digit account number will be your initial Username. Your temporary password/Audio Response PIN, were selected at account opening. If you forgot or need to set up your temporary password/Audio Response PIN please dial (800) 914-8619 then press option 1 for automated set-up.

INACTIVE MEMBERS: If you haven't used Online Banking for 6 months, your Online Banking access may be deactivated. If this happens, you may reactivate your account by using your 8-digit account number as your Username and your Audio Response PIN Code as your Password.

If you can't remember your audio response PIN Code or are having trouble, please call a Member Service Representative at (800)914-8619, press 7 then 3, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. EST.

Online Banking

FIRST TIME MEMBERS: Your 8-digit account number will be your initial Username. Your temporary password/Audio Response PIN, were selected at account opening. If you forgot or need to set up your temporary password/Audio Response PIN please dial (800) 914-8619 then press option 1 for automated set-up.

INACTIVE MEMBERS: If you haven't used Online Banking for 6 months, your Online Banking access may be deactivated. If this happens, you may reactivate your account by using your 8-digit account number as your Username and your Audio Response PIN Code as your Password.

If you can't remember your audio response PIN Code or are having trouble, please call a Member Service Representative at (800)914-8619, press 7 then 3, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. EST.

Online Banking

FIRST TIME MEMBERS: Your 8-digit account number will be your initial Username. Your temporary password/Audio Response PIN, were selected at account opening. If you forgot or need to set up your temporary password/Audio Response PIN please dial (800) 914-8619 then press option 1 for automated set-up.

INACTIVE MEMBERS: If you haven't used Online Banking for 6 months, your Online Banking access may be deactivated. If this happens, you may reactivate your account by using your 8-digit account number as your Username and your Audio Response PIN Code as your Password.

If you can't remember your audio response PIN Code or are having trouble, please call a Member Service Representative at (800)914-8619, press 7 then 3, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. EST.

Online Banking

FIRST TIME MEMBERS: Your 8-digit account number will be your initial Username. Your temporary password/Audio Response PIN, were selected at account opening. If you forgot or need to set up your temporary password/Audio Response PIN please dial (800) 914-8619 then press option 1 for automated set-up.

INACTIVE MEMBERS: If you haven't used Online Banking for 6 months, your Online Banking access may be deactivated. If this happens, you may reactivate your account by using your 8-digit account number as your Username and your Audio Response PIN Code as your Password.

If you can't remember your audio response PIN Code or are having trouble, please call a Member Service Representative at (800)914-8619, press 7 then 3, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. EST.

Online Banking

FIRST TIME MEMBERS: Your 8-digit account number will be your initial Username. Your temporary password/Audio Response PIN, were selected at account opening. If you forgot or need to set up your temporary password/Audio Response PIN please dial (800) 914-8619 then press option 1 for automated set-up.

INACTIVE MEMBERS: If you haven't used Online Banking for 6 months, your Online Banking access may be deactivated. If this happens, you may reactivate your account by using your 8-digit account number as your Username and your Audio Response PIN Code as your Password.

If you can't remember your audio response PIN Code or are having trouble, please call a Member Service Representative at (800)914-8619, press 7 then 3, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. EST.

Online Banking

FIRST TIME MEMBERS: Your 8-digit account number will be your initial Username. Your temporary password/Audio Response PIN, were selected at account opening. If you forgot or need to set up your temporary password/Audio Response PIN please dial (800) 914-8619 then press option 1 for automated set-up.

INACTIVE MEMBERS: If you haven't used Online Banking for 6 months, your Online Banking access may be deactivated. If this happens, you may reactivate your account by using your 8-digit account number as your Username and your Audio Response PIN Code as your Password.

If you can't remember your audio response PIN Code or are having trouble, please call a Member Service Representative at (800)914-8619, press 7 then 3, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. EST.

Online Banking

FIRST TIME MEMBERS: Your 8-digit account number will be your initial Username. Your temporary password/Audio Response PIN, were selected at account opening. If you forgot or need to set up your temporary password/Audio Response PIN please dial (800) 914-8619 then press option 1 for automated set-up.

INACTIVE MEMBERS: If you haven't used Online Banking for 6 months, your Online Banking access may be deactivated. If this happens, you may reactivate your account by using your 8-digit account number as your Username and your Audio Response PIN Code as your Password.

If you can't remember your audio response PIN Code or are having trouble, please call a Member Service Representative at (800)914-8619, press 7 then 3, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. EST.